Norwich was a happening village this past weekend with a lot of events and activities that took place on Friday and Saturday July 4th and 5th. Numerous venders lined both sides of Main Street to showcase and sell their wares at the annual Norwich Nostalgia Days. Other events included the Youth Fishing Derby, Morning Brunch at the Norwich Legion, the Optimist Splash Pad, the Classic Car Show, Shoot for the Cure Ball Hockey Tourney & Vendor Sale and Rock in the Park.
7 year old Carrissa Joosse biggest Bass @ 14 inches The Youth Fishing Derby sponsored by the Norwich Optimist Club and the OPP saw a large crowd of youths with their families. Early that morning seven year old Carissa Joosse caught the biggest Bass of the day at 14 inches weighing in at 1½ pounds.
Participants and spectators alike lined both sides of the east and west banks of the Norwich Conservation Area at the Long Point Conservation Authority. According to OPP Constable Stacy Culbert who has helped run this annual event for five years, that weekend is “free fishing where adults do not need to purchase a fishing licence. Licence-Free Fishing Days occur twice a year from February 15th to 17th and from July 5th to 13th.” Anyone from eighteen years to sixty-four needs a licence to fish in Ontario. As a result, many parents and friends accompanied the children to take advantage of the free fishing.
Participants and spectators alike lined both sides of the east and west banks of the Norwich Conservation Area at the Long Point Conservation Authority. According to OPP Constable Stacy Culbert who has helped run this annual event for five years, that weekend is “free fishing where adults do not need to purchase a fishing licence. Licence-Free Fishing Days occur twice a year from February 15th to 17th and from July 5th to 13th.” Anyone from eighteen years to sixty-four needs a licence to fish in Ontario. As a result, many parents and friends accompanied the children to take advantage of the free fishing.
Constable Stacy Culbert with Lydia Koppert Optimist Chair Person for this event Rick Baxter reported that about 150 children registered for the event from the ages of one up to sixteen years old. The age categories were from junior zero to nine and seniors from ten to sixteen years old. The entry fee was $5.00 per child which included a baseball cap, a hot dog, drink and a Freezee. Many community sponsors helped to provide prizes for the event. Owner of Liquidation City John Klyn generous donated a canoe as the big ticket draw. Rick and Scott Whitehead of Whitehead Soils Ltd. donated worms for participants to purchase. All proceeds went back to help fund for prizes for this event. The goal was to catch a fish from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., have it weight and measured then return the fish back into the lake. It was catch and release.
The Burggraaf Family registering for the Derby It was family affair for the Burggraaf Family. Father Rene brought his five children with whom three registered for the Derby; ten year old Lydia participated last year, first timers were eight year old Melissa and six year old Peter. Five year old Emily and two year old Stephen came to watch their siblings fish.
The Joosse & Ruitenbeek families On the west bank of the dam two families joined in on the fun the Joosse, winner Carrissa’s family and the Ruitenbeek. These families had ten people fishing altogether.
The Biddle Family & Little Rock Bass Also on the west side, ten year old Brook Biddle caught a Little Rock Bass. She was there with her 2½ year old cousin Logan Biddle, her father and grandparents.
The Norwich Fishing Derby has been an annual event in Norwich for about eighteen years. Constable Culbert reported that Sargent Mike Ellue from the then Oxford Community Police, now the Woodstock Police Service, was the first Officer to get involved with Norwich Optimist Club. Over the years the Derby now occurs on the same weekend as Nostalgia Days. Other community partners present were Crime Stoppers and the Norwich Fire Department who had fire helmets for children to try on.
It was a fun filled packed day with beautiful weather and lots of good memories for many families who participated.
(Parents' consent and approval was obtained to photograph their children.)
It was a fun filled packed day with beautiful weather and lots of good memories for many families who participated.
(Parents' consent and approval was obtained to photograph their children.)
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